By Shauna McGregor
In our latest issue of Scotcampus Magazine we featured contemporary clothing brand Hardwear’s collaboration with jewellery designer, Kelly McAllister shot and styled by Roisin Ferguson. We catch up with the stylist come photographer after the shoot, covering everything from retro vibes, fashion icons and Harajuku girls.
We’re delighted to speak to you again Roisin, how did you get in contact with Hardwear and how did you find styling their shoot?
In Scotland most creatives, tend to fully support each other instead of competing, effectively championing each other’s achievements in their selected fields. As a stylist and fashion blogger, I have been aware of and admired Hardwear’s ethos for sometime. If you subscribe to Hardwear’s mailing list they drop an email on the first of every month (if you haven’t already you really should!) so I have been aware of their brand’s progress over the year and even been lucky enough to see Matthias and Holly hard at work creating their beautiful screen prints. Through Scotcampus’ Today I’m Wearing feature, Matthias of Hardwear and myself both had a chance to display our own quirky, personal styles on the website which led to us to thinking of ways we could combine our personal strengths in a collaboration. We knew we wanted it to be something youthful, playful, wearable and include only local designers incorporating the wonderful jewellery designer, Kelly McAllister into the shoot. I felt overwhelming support from both the designers throughout the creative process. This provided me with great feedback inspiring for any creative when you use people`s work for whom you have great respect for.
How do you style shoots and what inspires you?
The Hardwear and Kelly McAllister shoot was very laid back and minimal compared to the shoots I usually style and shoot. I am renowned for over the top eccentric female shoots. I love overworked piling /off accessories. I seek inspiration from everything from Harajuku Japan, ballerinas, junk food and fairytales. Basically the more glitter and sequins the better. I tend to believe fashion is a form of escapism from mundane life and if you have the chance to use your imagination to create something surreal and dreamlike to transport you away from normality why not? There is nothing more rewarding when people tell me they can identify my styling work.
What are you studying at the moment?
Currently I am in my final honours year of Fashion Communications at Heriot Watt. The aim of the course is for you to broaden your creative horizons hence why as well as Fashion Styling I do a lot of photography, writing and a little film also. It is important for you to thrive when doing a subject you are obsessed with to learn and embrace as much aspects of it as you can. I used to work for an online magazine called Art and Haze whose inspiring tagline was “I create therefore I am” which rings so true. Being a creative is being an adventurer and a risk taker.
What is your favourite place to shop?
Although I don’t really have a favourite clothes shop as such as much I am aware of trends I just dress to suit myself. Often I will mix independent designers with vintage and high street. Anything that is a little bit kitch and retro. I love soft colours and playful patterns. For something pretty and unusual I will visit Godiva Boutique in the Grassmarket Edinburgh they stock Karen Mabon and Rowan Joy two other of my favourite Scottish designers.
Who is your fashion icon?
I adore how well put together woman were in the 1950s so tea dresses, wiggle dresses and big beautiful hair scarfs every time. I think Zooey Dechanel is the perfect modern representation of this I love seeing her team adorable printed dresses and sweet little cardigans with ribbons in her hair. Also Christina Hendricks in Madmen I could honestly sit and take style notes over the series to attempt to emulate that effortless elegant look she achieves. There is something so innocent yet alluring about that era of clothing designs which I love.
Check out the exclusive photo shoot on P.52 & 53